Theophilus Stork
Theophilus Stork [1]
a Lutheran minister, son of Reverend Charles A.G. Stork, of Brunswick, Germany, was born near Salisbury, N.C. in August 1814. He graduated from Pennsylvania College in 1835, and from Gettysburg Theological Seminary in 1837, in which year he was licensed to preach, and was immediately called to Grace Lutheran Church, Winchester, Virginia. In 1841 he became pastor of St. Matthew's Church, Philadelphia, where he labored nine years. In 1842 he was one of the active promoters of the organization of the East Pennsylvania Synod. The large church. known as St. Mark's, in Philadelphia, was organized by him in 1850. Eight years after he was called to the presidency of the new Lutheran College at Newberry, S.C. In 1860 he became pastor of St. Mark's Church, in Baltimore, Maryland, where he labored until 1865, and then returned to Philadelphia and organized St. Andrew's Church, which was afterwards merged in the Messiah Mission, since the Church of the Messiah. Impaired health compelled him to resign pastoral labor in 1873. He died in Philadelphia, March 28, 1874. Dr. Stork was a scholar of fine literary taste, an elegant writer, and an eloquent preacher. At various times he was editor of the Home Journal, of the Lutheran Home Monthy; and joint editor of the Lutheran Observer; also author of, Luther at Home: — Luther and the Bible: — Luther's Christmas Tree: — Children of the New Testament: — Home Scenes of the New Testament: — Jesus in the Temple-Afternoon. A volume of his Sermons was published after his death. See Pennsylvania College Year-book, 1882, page 201.
